BUGOJNO CROATS SAY THEIR SAFETY IS THREATENED

BUGOJNO, Oct 8 (Hina) - An IFOR (international peace force in Bosnia) delegation led by Colonel Yoly Yackoson, commander for central Bosnia, on Tuesday met Croats from the central Bosnian town of Bugojno (under the Moslem authorities) for talks about their position and problems. "In Bugojno Croats are facing segregation as well as threats to their personal safety. They are prevented to work, and they have no right to have telephone lines only because they are Croats," said Stipe Vujevic, a member of the Croats' delegation. He said international factors should be explained that Croat refugees could not return to their hometown as local Moslem authorities, headed by a hard-liner Dzevad Mlaco, did not let them come back. Only 1,200 Croats remain in Bugojno out of 17,000 Croats who lived in the town before the war. However, Moslem citizens in Bugojno were not to be blame for those problems, and they themselves were suffering the plight, the Croats said. IFOR Colonel Yackoson said the new chief of the international police task force (IPTF) with the base in Bugojno, was very concerned about the safety for remaining Croats and their property at the town. He added that those problems would have to be surmounted in cooperation with local Moslem police. Yackoson also said it would be most important to establish an interim Bugojno municipal council and thus enable Croats to participate in authority. (hina) jn mš 082151 MET oct 96